Consumer Culture

The term “retail therapy” is dorky and cliché, but there is something to be said for the healing power of shopping. Spending money is a form of catharsis, and we’ve scoured Atlanta’s retail scene for the best places to get it all out.

There weren’t many new places to blow dough this year, but we rustled up plenty of stores that make us proud to shout, “Recession be damned!” and dust the cobwebs off our wallets.

While some of us are buying on a budget and others have the means to splurge, everyone feels good about shopping at locally owned businesses. The Beehive Co-op, in its recently opened retail space, charmed us with its selection of handmade jewelry from local artists and indie crafters. And we love the new ATL apparel company Streetela for making local street art wearable.

Among our other faves are a B&B-slash-urban farm in the heart of the city, a beautiful chocolate shop that makes its confections from scratch and a tattoo parlor that knows how to ink skin of all colors. And for retail therapy in its most literal form, may we suggest the to-die-for luxury mani-pedi at Nouvelle Nail Spa or G Salon’s $40 spa deal?

Sure, it might be time to stop saying “retail therapy,” but indulging in it will never go out of style.

— Gwynedd Stuart and Bobby Feingold

Best Bootcamp BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick

Tough Love Yoga (Permanently Closed)

Sometimes you want to be coddled, crouching in the fetal position, while wind chimes gently wipe your stress away. But what you want isn’t always what you need. You need to relax. You need to stop whining. You need Tough Love Yoga. Run by the highly accomplished yoginis Neda Draupadi Honarvar and Durgayamore...

Sometimes you want to be coddled, crouching in the fetal position, while wind chimes gently wipe your stress away. But what you want isn’t always what you need. You need to relax. You need to stop whining. You need Tough Love Yoga. Run by the highly accomplished yoginis Neda Draupadi Honarvar and Durgaya Palmieri, both certified in Classical Hatha Yoga, TLY de-stresses you better than spinning endlessly on the elliptical (like you’re doing now). Difficulty ranges from beginner’s yoga to bikini bootcamp. Its popular Metal Yoga class at Young Blood Gallery is not easy, but newbies can go at their own speed. The class takes place in the exhibition room, so yogis are surrounded by hanging art and tattooed hipsters. Metal Yoga focuses on maintaining poses and improving flexibility unlike others around town that fixate on aerobic activity. Body-mind wellness doesn’t always come cheap, but there’s a $10 suggested donation for dropping in a class and a 10-class pass is $90. Tough love never felt so good. 636 North Highland Ave. 404-919-1008. toughloveyoga.com. less...

Best Bed & Breakfast BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick

The Social Goat Bed and Breakfast (Permanently Closed)

Best Hair Salon BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick

Crimpers Hair Salon